Plasterer&#39;s float



April 30, 1940. i c. D. PILANT PLASTERERS FLOAT Filed April 24, 1939 1 E/\ r0e 62%784567 0. P/4/7A/ Patented Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,198,974 I PLASTERERS FLOAT Charles D. Pilant, San Gabriel, Calif. Application April 24, 1939, Serial No. 269,702 4 Claims. (ems-136) My invention relates to a plasterers float and has for its principal object, to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the exist ing forms of floats utilized by plasterers for smoothing and finishing plastered surfaces, fur ther, to provide a float that will be effective in producing straight lines in corners and further, to construct the float so that its end portions will not cut or plow into the plastic material on which the float is being used.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a float that may be advantageously utilized for smoothing and finishing surfaces of all selfhardening plastic material, for instance, cement,

white coat, stucco, sand finish, putty finish and the, like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in' the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a float constructed in accordance with my invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a section taken lengthwise through the center of the float and showing the position thereof while used for smoothing the plastered surface of a wall or other structure.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the float and showing the position of the same while smoothing a plastered surface in a corner or adjacent a door or window frame.

Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3, with a part of the float broken away.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In the construction of the float, I prefer to form the same from a single piece of sheet metal that is cut and bent to proper shape and, the main body of said float comprises an elongated member ID that is bent slightly on a transverse line at a point preferably midway between its ends, thus providing portions Ilia that are practically identical in size and shape and which are inclined approximately two or three degrees with respect to each other. Each portion Illa of the main body of the float decreases gradually in width toward its end and thus, the side edges of said portions Illa are inclined with respect to each other approximately three or four degrees.

Formed integral with and projecting substantially at right angles from the sides of the body ID are flanges II which, due to the longitudinal tapering of the portions Illa are benttransversely at points intermediate their ends so that, those portions of the flanges to the sides of the portions Illa. of the body of the float are inclined approximately two or three degrees with respect to each other.

Thus the body of the float is generally channel-shape in cross section with a comparatively wide'portion ID that gradually decreases in width toward its ends and with comparatively low upstanding side walls H.

The end portions of a curved handle l3 which may be formed of wood, composition, or metal, rest on top of the end portions iila. of the float body and, these end portions are secured to the body in in any suitable manner, preferably by means of screws M or like fastening devices that pass throug-hthe body l0 into the ends of the handle.

Thus the body of the float has two practically identical flat under faces that may be used in smoothing surfaces of plaster or the like and with one surface inclined two or three degrees with respect to the other surface.

Thus when the float is used for smoothing and finishing a plastered surface or the like, it is applied to said surface as illustrated in Fig. 1, with the under face of one of the parts Illa in contact with said surface and, the float isthen drawn downwardly without the possibility of the lower end of the float body entering or plowing into the plasticmaterial and which result is due to the fact that the under face of the lower half of the body of the float is inclined two or three degrees with respect to the plastic surface that is being engaged and finished by the upper half of the float.

When the float is utilized for finishing surfaces in corners, said float is positioned as illustrated in Figs. 3 or 4 with one-half of one of the side flanges I I in engagement with the surface that is disposed. at right angles to the surface against which the corresponding portion [0a of the body of the float is engaged and, as the float is drawn downwardly in the corner a straight line in said corner or between the surfaces that are being finished will be produced.

Inasmuch as the body of the float is bi-laterally or bi-longitudinally identical in size and shape, said float may be readily manipulated and quickly shifted from one position to another in performing the smoothing and finishing operations, particularly in corners or upon surfaces adjacent door and window frames and the like.

Obviously, where the float is being moved vertically first in one direction and then in the other, it must be tilted slightly at the ends of i6 such strokes in order to bring the proper end portion into position for smoothing the surface that is being worked upon and to prevent the advance end of the float body from plowing into the plastic material.

Likewise, where the float is being used in corners or adjacent window and door frames, it may be moved first in one direction and then in the other and tilted slightly at the ends of the strokes so as to bring the proper portions of the side flanges l I into engagement with the surfaces that are disposed at right angles to the surfaces acted upon by the portions lUa of the float body.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a plasterers float that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

The float made in small sizes may be conveniently employed for finishing surfaces of restricted size and where floats of standard size can not be used and, in addition to being particularly applicable for use on walls, ceilings, and the like, the float may be advantageously employed in finishing the surfaces of floors, walks, curbs, and walls composed of cement.

In the event that it is desired to construct the tool for finishing narrow surfaces, the tools may be formed with relatively narrow body portions, for instance, half the width of the body portion of the tool illustrated in Fig. 1 and with the flange H formed on only one side of the body of the tool and, this narrow form of tool being provided with the handle l3.

Such narrow tools will enable the relatively narrow surfaces between adjacent door or window casings and in corners where there is only a narrow space between the corner and the frame of a door, window, or the like, to be conveniently finished.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved plasterers float, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A plasterers float comprising a body provided on its under side with a pair of smooth finishing faces disposed at angles with respect to each other, said faces gradually decreasing in width from the center of the body to the ends thereof, upstanding flanges on the side edges of said body and a handle secured to said float.

2. Ina plasterers float, a substantially rectangular plate that gradually tapersin width from its longitudinal center toward both ends and the tapered portions of said plate being disposed at angleswith respect to each other.

3. A plasterers float as set forth in claim 2 and with upstanding flanges on the sides of said plate. V

4. A plasterers float comprising a body provided on its under side with a pair of smooth fin-' ishing faces disposed at angles with respect to each other and a flange formed integral with and extending substantially at right angles to the body of the float along one edge thereof, the bi-longitudinal portions of which flange are slightly inclined with respect to each other.

CHARLES D. PILAN'I. 

